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Cricket South Africa (CSA) has unveiled the squad of 14 players who will represent the Proteas Women in the upcoming home One Day International (ODI) series against Sri Lanka. The series, a pivotal part of the ICC Women’s Championship, is slated to commence on April 9 and extend till April 17, with matches set to be held at diverse venues spanning East London, Kimberley, and Potchefstroom.
The ICC Women’s Championship: A pathway to the World Cup
The ODI series holds significant weight as it contributes to the ICC Women’s Championship, dictating qualification for the esteemed 50-over World Cup. South Africa currently stands at second place in the Championship standings, boasting 20 points garnered from ten victories in 15 matches.
New faces and injury woes
A notable inclusion in the squad is Karabo Meso, a talented 16-year-old wicketkeeper-batter, earning her maiden ODI call-up. Meso showcased her potential during her debut for South Africa in the second T20I against Sri Lanka in Potchefstroom, albeit being dismissed for a two-ball duck by Chamari Athapaththu.
However, the Proteas Women will be without the services of Chloe Tryon, who continues her rehabilitation for a back injury, rendering her unavailable for the series. In her absence, all-rounder Annerie Dercksen has been omitted from the squad, with Delmi Tucker stepping in as a replacement. Tucker, a seasoned player with experience across formats, brings a valuable off-spin option and batting prowess to the side.
Also READ: Twitter reactions – Chamari Athapaththu sizzles in Sri Lanka’s historic Women’s T20I series win over South Africa
Words from the camp
Commenting on the squad dynamics and preparations, Hilton Moreeng, South Africa’s head coach, emphasized the importance of covering all bases, especially in unpredictable conditions.
“It’s a big loss with the injury of Chloe as an allrounder, that’s why Delmi has come into the squad and she can give you the offspin option and with her batting. In these conditions, we never know this time of year what to expect on our surfaces. So we make sure that we have all our angles covered and overall we’re just excited to make sure that we finish off on a high and go into our off-season,” said Moreeng in an official statement.
South Africa squad for women’s ODI series vs Sri Lanka
Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Suné Luus, Eliz-Mari Marx, Karabo Meso, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Tumi Sekhukhune, Delmi Tucker
